IS CHILD LABOR DECREASING?

UNCLAS TIRANA 000814 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SCE; DRL; G/TIP; DOL FOR ILAB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB ECON PREL SCUL SMIG AL SUBJECT: IS CHILD LABOR DECREASING? SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE TREAT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU) Summary: NGO and GOA officials covering child labor have indicated that child labor in the formal economy may be decreasing slightly, but any decreases are likely offset by increases in child labor in the informal economy. Economics and greater awareness seem to explain the potential decrease. Children trafficked across borders for child labor also appears to be declining due to better border enforcement and awareness, according to anecdotal evidence. While the GOA has made commendable progress on this issue, stronger enforcement of child labor and other relevant laws combined with more effective implementation of anti-child labor programs would go a long way toward substantially improving the prospects of these children. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Recent meetings with child labor activists and GOA officials indicate that child labor in the formal economy may be decreasing, albeit slightly. According to professionals who work with child labor issues, greater awareness on the part of businesses and economics may explain the fall in the number of children working in the formal economy. Etleva Vertopi, National Program Manager for the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC) International Labor Organization (ILO),told Post that child labor often does not work economically for many businesses. For example, in some industries, businesses have noticed that the quality of work done by children does not meet the standard required by international companies, costing manufacturers money as many items produced are returned due to shoddy craftsmanship. Children are cheaper labor than adults, however the amount of defects produced end up costing firms more money. A Ministry of Labor official cautiously agreed with this assessment and added that the global economic crisis also likely plays a role in the potential decline. ¶3. (SBU) While child labor in the formal economy may be decreasing, in the informal sector it appears to be growing. In the informal sector, forced begging, selling cigarettes and gum in the streets, car washes and recycling remain the primary areas where children are exploited. (Note: The Children's Human Rights Center of Albania (CRCA) and Vertopi of ILO agree that child beggars are over 90 per cent Roma, whereas child vendors are overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian. End note.) In contrast with a few years ago, however, it appears that the majority of the child labor victims are being transported or trafficked internally, rather than externally. With greater awareness on the part of the GOA and better border enforcement, the amount of children transported across borders may have decreased and traffickers may have adjusted their strategies. Clearly, trafficking of children across borders still occurs, but the situation is nowhere near the levels of 2004 and 2005 where individuals openly trafficked children at border checkpoints, according to CRCA and Vertopi. ¶4. (SBU) One area that falls between the formal and informal economies and has received scant attention is the agricultural sector. Commonly referred to as the elephant in the room, child labor in agriculture is rarely mentioned and the Ministry of Labor told Post that it does not inspect farms. While the law does grant some exceptions for children to assist their families in farming, it is unclear whether or not family farms are complying with the law. Little to no data exists on child labor on farms and on the issue of child labor as a whole. To combat the lack of data, ILO, together with INSTAT (the Albanian Institute for Statistics),is launching the first comprehensive child labor survey early next year, according to Vertopi. She expects to have a finished report in the autumn of 2010, if not before. In addition, CRCA, together with UNICEF launched a child labor hotline in order to assist children and gather data in June. CRCA says the line is working but said statistics are unavailable currently, but are expected soon. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: While the GOA has made commendable progress in some areas, child labor remains a pervasive and visible problem. The contentions that child labor may be decreasing in the formal sector are interesting, but without sufficient data it is difficult to ascertain the true scope of the problem. Hopefully next year's child labor survey will shed more light on the situation. Children begging and hawking goods can be seen on a daily basis, but it does not appear that the police take many measures to enforce the law, despite the openness of the problem. A new child protection law is currently under consideration in parliament; however, enforcement is key. The government also has various action plans to combat the problem, but execution is lacking. Vertopi contends that if the GOA allocated its resources properly in this area, it could make a sizeable dent in the problem; however inefficiencies and bureaucratic inertia often stymie any meaningful initiatives, leaving the children to fend for themselves. JONES